Alyson Cotter Reading Importance

Picking out main points or important information can be difficult, because the reader does not know exactly what particular point the author is trying to get across. Different people typically perceive texts in a variety of ways. This is why, when reading texts for a class I tend to pick out important information by looking at different fonts and headers. Definitions and bolded words or phrases seem to be main points in texts so I am more apt to make note of them. Making connections to my previous knowledge is another way to pick out information from a reading. If we have discussed a topic in class and it appears in the text it is probably important. Highlighting the material and sometimes making notes off to the side is the strategy that I am comfortable with and that enables me to remember my thinking in class discussions. It seems that there are many occasions where my idea of what was important changes while talking to professors and classmates.
While looking at texts, I hear myself reading the words in my head. I have an internal conversation with myself. Many times stopping and rereading helps me to understand a particular topic or point. Asking questions while reading about whether or not the particular section of the reading makes sense is something that goes on in my head. This internal conversation also helps me keep focused on what I am reading. I know that if my voice is not heard in my head, then my mind has wondered off topic and I need to get back on task. Since much of the reading assigned is related to teaching in the classroom, I also stop to think about how it applies in classes I have seen. Trying to visualize the situation in a classroom is very helpful to me as a future teacher.